Vichyssoise
(Creme vichyssoise glacée)
This thick French soup is made with puréed leeks, onions, potatoes, cream, and chicken stock. There is an ongoing debate about its origin – some claim it has French roots, while others insist that the soup is an American invention.
One group of food historians say that the soup was invented by French chef Jules Gouffe in 1859, while others believe the original creator to be Louis Diat, a French chef who worked at the New York Ritz-Carlton. Inspired by the potato and leek soup of his childhood, he named the soup crème Vichyssoise glacée after his hometown of Vichy.
Today, the soup is traditionally served cold and is often garnished with fresh chopped chives.
Recipe variations
The Original Vichyssoise
READY IN 5h 45minThis is the original recipe for vichyssoise. As the story goes, Sara Delano Roosevelt, the mother of Franklin D. Roosevelt, ordered eight portions of vichyssoise to be delivered to her Manhattan house. At her request, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel also provided her with this recipe.
Anthony Bourdain's Vichyssoise
READY IN 3hThis recipe is adapted from Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles Cookbook. Unlike the original vichyssoise, Bourdain’s is made with copious amounts of heavy cream, chicken broth, and seasoned with nutmeg.
Vichyssoise Authentic recipe
This is the original recipe for vichyssoise. As the story goes, Sara Delano Roosevelt, the mother of Franklin D. Roosevelt, ordered eight portions of vichyssoise to be delivered to her Manhattan house. At her request, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel also provided her with this recipe.
WHERE TO EAT The best Vichyssoise in the world (according to food experts)
"This cold, refreshing soup brought me back to life after feeling uncomfortably hot, walking around the city. The simplicity and clean notes were delightful."
"I have to say that I'm not a fan of cold soups, nor of vichyssoise, but I may just have been converted today! This soup was just wonderful - light yet creamy, salty but not too salty. And the small bits of mystery veggies were a nice textural contrast."
